Michigan is home to a number of fully accredited undergraduate programs in psychology. A bachelor’s degree in psychology can take you in many directions. While some people pursue this undergraduate degree in order to pursue a career as a psychologist or social worker, others may choose a different direction. A degree in psychology can be a good foothold for a number of careers. Everything from medicine, to business, to law and beyond can be pursued with an undergraduate psychology degree. Because most of these degree programs are founded in a strong liberal arts curriculum, students pursuing these degrees receive an excellent education with a broad scope. In addition to the Liberal Arts portion of the curriculum, students must also complete a number of psychology courses to fulfill the major portion of the curriculum. In some cases this many be a general exposure to many topics in psychology. In other cases, students can choose a specialty area of psychology to further specialize.

Saginaw Valley State University

The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences

Saginaw Valley State University is a public coed university situated on 748 acres in University Center (6 miles from Saginaw County) Michigan. Founded in 1963 as Saginaw Valley College, it is the youngest of Michigan’s 15 public colleges and universities. Saginaw Valley offers over 100 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels with more than10,000 students in five colleges at the main campus in University Center. Some of the most popular areas of study are teaching, nursing, engineering, business, the health professions, criminal justice, psychology and professional technical writing. The mission (as stated by the University) is “creating opportunities for individuals to achieve intellectual and personal development through academic, professional, and cultural programs”. In 2016, US News and World Reports ranked Saginaw Valley State University as a Tier 2 University on the list of Best Midwest Regional Universities. The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences is the largest college at the university with programs available to fulfill their general education requirements and programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Applied Studies, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Arts.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program provides students with an introduction to the traditions, content, methodologies and results of the scientific study of behavior. The psychology major provides opportunities for student in the program to apply psychological principles to real-world settings. Coursework allows students to understand how we perceive, learn and are motivated to think and take action, how we differ from one another, how we develop from infancy to old age and how interpersonal factors affect our relations with each other’s. The Bachelor Arts in Psychology requires 43 credits in the following areas of study:

Eight credits of required Foundation courses

Twenty-one credits of Core Psychology Coursework

Fourteen credits of directed electives

Two credits of psychology lab courses

Graduates of the program pursue careers in the following areas: sales, mid-level management and administration, labor relations, personnel and training, real estate, marketing, business and insurance. Those students seeking careers as professional psychologists are prepared to enter graduate studies.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Siena Heights University

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Psychology Department

Founded in 1919 by the Adrian Dominican Congregation, Siena Heights University is a Catholic, co-educational university. Current enrollments is more than 2,400 students at the main campus located in Adrian Michigan, with additional campus locations throughout Michigan, including Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Lansing, Monroe, and Metro Detroit as well as a totally online program. The university awards more than 40 academic programs of study in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. The undergraduate college is divided into seven academic divisions. The mission (as stated by the University) is “assisting students to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all”. In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Siena Heights University as the 92nd best Midwestern Regional University. The mission of the Psychology Department at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is “developing caring, analytical and ethical individuals with a solid knowledge of the numerous and dynamic forces influencing human behavior”.

Bachelor of in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides a curriculum that combines theory, research and practice. The study of theory provides a core foundation in development, personality, social and learning theories in psychology. Through the research component, students design and implement a research project that is geared to their desired career goals. Through the program students are required a one semester internship working in a community agency to apply the skills acquired in coursework. Some future areas of employment fro graduates of the program include:

Mental Health Counselor

Adoption Coordinator

Child Development Specialist

Social Research

Education

Employee Relations

Wellness Program Director

Family and Child Advocate

Art Therapy

Corrections

Geriatrics

Graduates of the program are also adequately prepared for admission into graduate programs in a number of related areas. The program requires 120 credits for completion and includes the following:

Forty-eight credits in Psychology Major

Thirty-two credits in Liberal Arts Coursework

Forty credits in General Electives

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Spring Arbor University

The Department of Psychology

Located in Spring Arbor Michigan, Spring Arbor University is a private Christian coed university affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. Founded in 1873, it is the second-largest Evangelical Christian University in the state of Michigan. Spring Arbor awards degrees in more than 70 majors and programs at the undergraduate level at its main campus. Current total undergraduate enrollment is 2,721 students on a 100-acre campus. In 2016, US News and World Reports ranked Spring Arbor University as 64th best Midwestern Regional University. Spring Arbor’s 16 intercollegiate sports teams are part of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Psychology is one of the most popular majors at the university and the program is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of professions. The mission of the department is “preparing students well for graduate study and careers in psychology and related fields, and assist them in integrating a Christian perspective into their understanding of human behavior”.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts psychology major at Spring Arbor University prepares students for entry into graduate training programs for future careers as professionals and leaders in clinical and counseling psychology, social work, administration and management, public health, law, diplomacy and foreign service and advanced seminary training for full-time Christian ministry. Course work for the program provides the following:

A study of the experimental and clinical methods for studying persons

Study of theoretical concepts and research findings of the field

Exploration of the historical background and philosophical assumptions underlying the methods and theories of modern psychology and their relationship to Christian belief and experience

Applying psychological knowledge to significant human need in the field setting

Career opportunities for graduates of the psychology program include entry-level careers in crisis intervention and counseling centers, community service agencies and social work, evaluation and intervention in the psychiatric clinical and hospital settings, substance-abuse programs, rehabilitation, law enforcement, senior citizens services and programs, youth ministry, services to children and adolescents with special needs and international service. The psychology department at Spring Arbor University has designed the curriculum to equip students to go to graduate school or enter the work force. The psychology major requires 36-credits for completion.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

University of Detroit Mercy

College of Liberal Arts and Education

Founded in 1877, the University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic coed university that is affiliated with the Jesuits and the Sisters of Mercy. Located in Detroit Michigan, the university is the largest Roman Catholic University in Michigan. The school spans three campuses in Detroit, the school offers more than a hundred academic degrees and programs of study including liberal arts, psychology, business, dentistry, education, law, engineering, nursing, architecture and allied health. In 2016, The US News and World Reports ranked the University of Detroit Mercy as 23rd best Midwestern Regional University. The University of Detroit Mercy sponsors 19 NCAA Division I – varsity sports teams and has a current total undergraduate enrollment of 2,762 students on the 75 acre campus. The College of Liberal Arts and Educations mission is “providing a student-centered education in an urban context to stimulate a desire for the life-long exploration of the intellectual, spiritual and ethical dimensions of what it means to be human”.

Bachelor of Arts in General Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in General Psychology degree program provides students with a study of the basic principles of psychology and the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Coursework allows students to understand the workings of individuals, animals and groups. Graduates of the General Psychology program are prepared for careers in a variety of settings including universities and colleges, clinics and hospitals, business and industry, government agencies, law enforcement and the military. Psychology can be an academic or research discipline or an applied science. The General Psychology major is designed for those students who intend to pursue careers in psychology and provides a strong foundation for graduate study. The General Psychology Major requires 36 credits for completion and includes the following requirements:

Twelve credits of Topics and Methods to Illustrate Concepts, Principles and Theories in Psychology

Six credits of Basic Processes

Six credits of Developmental Psychology/Family Life

Three credits of Clinical Processes

Six credits of Social Issues/Group Dynamics

Three credit Capstone: Integrative Experience

Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Psychology with a Certificate in Family Life Education

The Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Psychology with a Certificate in Family Life Education is designed for students who want to pursue careers immediately after graduation in areas including childcare, child welfare, family relations, parent education and programs for the elderly. Though special projects, students can acquire experience working with a particular population (children, elderly, etc.).
The Developmental Psychology Major requires 35-40 credits for completion and includes the following requirements:

One of the following 3 credit courses: Introductory Psychology, Basic Practicum, Developmental Psychology, Human Relationships and Parenting, Family Development, Cross-Cultural Socialization, Psychology of Death and Dying, Research in Developmental Psychology

One of the following 3 credits courses: Social Psychology, Biopsychology

Two of the following 3 credit courses: Child Development: Infancy and Early Childhood Development, Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development, Adult Development and Aging

One of the following 3 credit courses: Statistics, Research Methods I, Psychology of Personality

Bachelor of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology major provides students with the skills required for careers in the business world. The curriculum emphasizes business and psychology allowing them to understand both human nature and the dynamics of organizational life. Graduates are prepared to enter careers that involve performing tasks related to human resource assessment, selection and placement, performance appraisal, job analysis and re-design, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and other activities related to human resources. Students will be prepared for entry into graduate programs in business, the arts, law, healthcare and psychology. The Industrial/Organizational Psychology Major Requires 27 credits for completion and includes the following requirements:

Nine credits of Psychology Core

Nine credits of Research Methods and Basic Processes

One of the following 3 credit courses: Biopsychology, Perceptual and Cognitive Processes, Learning and Memory

Six credits of Industrial/Organizational Processes

Three credits of Psychology Electives:

Twelve credits of Business Administration Requirements

Two of the following 3 credit courses: Business Law I, Behavior and Leadership in Organizations, Human Resources Management

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The Department of Psychology

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public coed university that was founded in 1817, making it one of the first public universities in the country. The university awards more than 200 undergraduate majors, 90 master’s degrees and 100 doctoral in the humanities, social sciences, medicine, law, and dentistry. The mission, as stated by the university, is “to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future”. In 2016, US News and World Reports ranked the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as the 29th Best National University. The University of Michigan’s varsity teams “the Wolverines” compete in NCAA Division 1 of the NCAA in the Big Ten Conference. Current student enrollment is 28,395 students, across the 3,211-acre campus. The students at the University of Michigan come from all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The mission statement is “commitment to a mission of excellence in research, teaching and apprenticeship by creating new scientific knowledge about psychological processes through scholarship, teaching innovative courses to engage students in research and service activities and continuing to maintain outstanding graduate education”.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology major provides students with a robust curriculum that provides students with a strong scientific background in the analysis and methodological approaches used in the study of behavior (in particular human behavior) in order to prepare students for graduate study in a variety of fields. Students have the opportunity to participate in research in a community setting and to select specific coursework to meet post-graduate goals. A psychology degree provides a preparation for students in careers of interaction with people of all ages and backgrounds in variety of fields. Curriculum for the program enhances students understanding of behavioral science from within themselves and others through concepts developed by study. Coursework provides an opportunity to better understand:

The way that behavior is motivated

How people perceive, learn, and think

The way that individuals differ from one another

How personality develops from infancy to maturity and is expressed by behavior

Interpersonal factors that will affect human relationships in the home, on the job, and in the community

A minimum of 24 credits is required for the major in Psychology.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

It is clear that Michigan’s many colleges and universities have a lot to offer students. Students can choose to take their courses on campus, on-line or a combination of the two. They can choose from a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science, depending upon their goals. They can also choose whether a general psychology program or a specialty area program is a better fit. Each student must evaluate his or her goals, both academically and professionally, and then choose a program that will help them achieve those goals. With so many options to choose from, there is a psychology bachelor’s degree program in Michigan to fit every need.